Valves and valve actuation – Electrically actuated valve
Patent
1991-12-09
1992-09-29
Rosenthal, Arnold
Valves and valve actuation
Electrically actuated valve
251 65, 310 15, F16K 3102, H02K 41035
Patent
active
051508788
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a linear actuator and more particularly to a linear actuator in the form of an electrical transducer which produces a linear displacement when driven by an electric current.
In accordance with this invention there is provided a linear actuator which comprises two elongate resilient elements joined together at their opposite ends, a first one of the elements being fixed at a point intermediate its ends and the two elements being arranged to carry an electric current, and means for providing a magnetic field transverse to the two elements so that when the electric current is passed through them, the two elements move apart.
The two elongate elements may be formed by opposite sides of a multi-turn coil.
The two elongate elements may be disposed in the same transverse magnetic field, or they may be disposed in respective transverse magnetic fields of opposite senses.
When the electric current through the two elongate elements of the actuator is terminated, the two elements return to their rest position (i.e. they move back towards each other) under their own inherent resilience.
It will be appreciated that the actuator produces a linear displacement of an intermediate point on the second element, which is opposite to the fixed point on the first element. The actuator produces a displacement through a substantial distance at high speed immediately in response to the onset and termination of the electric current.
The linear actuator may be used to control the opening and closing of a valve in a fluid dispensing device and for example may include a needle attached to the second element, which needle co-operates with a valve orifice.
Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of linear actuator controlling a needle valve in a fluid dispenser;
FIG. 2 is a section through the actuator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of linear actuator-controlling a needle valve in a fluid dispenser; and
FIG. 4 is a section through the actuator of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a linear actuator which comprises a multi-turn flat coil which is provided with a coating to insulate adjacent turns from each other. The coil, being generally flat, thus provides in effect two elongate elements 10, 12 having their opposite ends connected together at 13, 14. An intermediate or mid-point of the element 1 is mounted to a fixed support 16 and the two ends of the coil are brought out as electrical leads 17, 18. A valve needle 20 is fixed to the other element 12 at its mid point, and is directed away from the element 10 and its support 16. As shown in FIG. 2, a permanent magnet 22 is provided with its poles either side of the coil, so as to give a magnetic field which is common to the two elements 10, 12 of the coil and is transverse to the plane containing the coil.
In operation, if an electric current is passed through the coil in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, it is found that the two elements 10, 12 move apart, i.e. the element 12 and its needle 20 move away from the fixed support 16. The electric current through the element 10 situated in the magnetic field from the permanent magnet produces a force causing this element to move away from its support 16 and therefore to bend as shown. The bending moment forces are transferred to the element 12 to cause this also to bend.
Thus both elements 10, 12 bow outwardly away from each other when the electric current is applied. When the electric current is terminated, the two elements 10, 12 straighten out (therefore the needle 20 moving back towards the fixed support 16) under their inherent resilience.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a modified embodiment of linear actuator, in which the coil is of generally rectangular shape providing in effect two elongate elements 10, 12 joined at their opposite ends by shorter elements 11, 15 so that at rest
REFERENCES:
patent: 4600322 (1986-07-01), Vermot-Gaud et al.
patent: 4732498 (1988-03-01), Vermot-Gaud et al.
patent: 4903732 (1990-02-01), Allen
Rosenthal Arnold
Schindler Edwin D.
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